Though deep, yet clear, though gentle, yet not dull, Strong without rage, without o'erflowing full. * * * ON MR. ABRAHAM COWLEY'S DEATH AND BURIAL AMONGST THE ANCIENT POETS Old Chaucer, like the morning star, To us discovers day from far. His light those mists and clouds dissolved, RICHARD LOVELACE (1618–1658) Which our dark nation long involved; But he descending to the shades, Darkness again the age invades. Next, like Aurora, Spenser rose, Whose purple blush the day foreshows; The other three, with his own fires Phoebus, the poets' god inspires; ΙΟ By Shakspere's, Jonson's, Fletcher's lines, Our stage's luster Rome's outshines: These poets near our princes sleep, And in one grave their mansion keep; They lived to see so many days, Till time had blasted all their bays; But cursed be the fatal hour That plucked the fairest, sweetest flower Time, which made them their fame out ABRAHAM COWLEY (1618-1667) THE SWALLOW Foolish Prater, what do'st thou With thy tuneless serenade? Well 't had been had Tereus made Thee as dumb as Philomel: There his knife had done but well. Thou dost all the winter rest, And dreamest o'er thy summer joys, Free from the stormy season's noise: 10 Had'st thou all the charming notes 15 5 Nothing half so sweet or fair, Nothing half so good can'st bring, Though men say, 'Thou bring'st the spring?' TO HIS COY MISTRESS Had we but world enough, and time, Vaster than empires, and more slow; And the last age should show your heart. But at my back I always hear Thy beauty shall no more be found, Appointed for my second race, Before I taught my tongue to wound O, how I long to travel back, And tread again that ancient track, That I might once more reach that plain, Where first I left my glorious train; From whence the enlightened spirit sees 25 That shady city of palm trees. But ah! my soul with too much stay Is drunk, and staggers in the way! THE WORLD I saw Eternity the other night, 30 Like a great ring of pure and endless light, All calm, as it was bright; And round beneath it, Time, in hours, days, |